Crystal Creek Walnut - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Endiandra floydii

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered

Commonwealth status: Endangered

Profile last updated: 11 Oct 2022

Description

A small tree to 15 m tall, often with coppice shoots at the base, and with dark green shiny adult leaves 5 – 15 cm long and 2 – 5 cm wide, and pinkish-brown new leaves. The trunk is dark grey while branchlets in the foliage are thick and green. The small green to cream flowers are held in small clusters back within the leaves. The fruits are egg- or pear-shaped, 5 – 7 cm long, and red to purplish-black when ripe.

Distribution

Confined to the Tweed and Brunswick Valleys and Byron Bay area of north-east NSW, and to one or two locations in south-east Queensland.

Habitat and ecology

Warm temperate, subtropical rainforest or wet sclerophyll forest with Brush Box overstorey, and in and Camphor Laurel forest. The species can occur in disturbed and regrowth sites.
The species generally preferres sheltered locations however it has been recorded on ridgelines, slopes, gullies and creek flats.
It occurs from sea level up to 430 m above sea level.
Flowering has been observed from November to May.
Fruit, which has been observed from December to May, is not produced every year, and heavy crops are produced at irregular intervals.
Following the severe drought conditions of the 2002 dry season, heavy fruit crops were reported throughout the range of the Crystal Creek Walnut.
Seeds germinate readily and rapidly in nursery conditions.
From one recorded fire exposure event the species was found to resprout from the root stock following the fire, the main trunk was killed by the fire.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

South Eastern Queensland

Threats

Clearing and fragmentation of habitat for agriculture.
Clearing and fragmentation of habitat for development.
Inappropriate fire regimes.
Infestation of habitat by weeds.
Clearing and fragmentation of habitat for road-works.
Small population sizes place the species at risk.
Habitat fragmentation isolating populations and increasing impacts of edge effects.
Trampling by visitors to conservation areas.
Poor seedling recruitment.
Collection of seeds for horticulture.
Loss of genetic diversity and potential for inbreeding depression as a result of small population size, fragmentation and habitat loss

Recovery strategies

Priority actions are the specific, practical things that must be done to recover a threatened species, population or ecological community. The Office of Environment and Heritage has identified 18 priority actions to help recover the Crystal Creek Walnut in New South Wales.

Activities to assist this species

Protect areas of known and potential habitat from clearing or development.
Protect known habitat from fire.
Identify populations along roadsides and protect them during road-works.
Control weeds in areas of known habitat.
Expand and connect remaining remnants of habitat.
Exclude cattle from areas of known and potential habitat.
Seek a permit from the OEH for collecting seeds from the wild.
Buy plants only from appropriately licensed nurseries.
Keep to established tracks in areas of habitat to avoid trampling small plants.
Undertake surveys to identify unknown populations.
Maintain viable ex-situ collection.

Information sources

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2002) Threatened Species of the Upper North Coast of NSW: Flora. (NSW NPWS, Coffs Harbour)
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2004) NSW and National Draft Recovery Plan for Endiandra floydii (Crystal creek Walnut). NSW NPWS, Sydney.

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

South Eastern Queensland	Burringbar-Conondale Ranges	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Clarence Lowlands	Predicted	North of Ballina
South Eastern Queensland	Scenic Rim	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Sunshine Coast-Gold Coast Lowlands	Predicted	None

Images

Flowers and foliage, Crystal Creek Walnut Image 1 of 4.
View slideshow.

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